‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ director Joel Feigenbaum has insisted he was “never aware” of Jessica Alba’s claims that she was told not to look at the show’s cast.
Jessica Alba
Jessica, 39, recently claimed she was banned from making eye contact with the cast when she had a guest role in the drama in 1998, and although the director says he “doesn’t doubt” her allegations, he also insisted the rule didn’t come from him or any of the show’s main cast.
Speaking during an episode of the ‘Beverly Hills, 90210 Show’ podcast, he said: “I had not [heard that rule about no eye contact]. I had not, but I’m not saying … it’s very possible someone could have said that to her, either seriously or not.
“I can’t imagine who it would have been. It certainly wasn’t one of the cast and I can’t even imagine - the only other people it might have been, an AD [assistant director] or maybe somebody in the makeup and hair trailer. I don’t doubt that she heard that somehow, but I certainly was never aware of it and you certainly never saw that on the set anyway.”
Joel - who directed five episodes of the show, including the one in which Jessica guest-starred - also explained he was surprised to hear of the actress’ claims, because he knew the main cast well.
He added: “She may have heard that somehow. Who knows? It could have been maybe even before she ever came to ‘90210’, before she was even cast in the part. For all I know, somebody else was messing with her, but to my knowledge, that certainly wasn’t a rule on the set by any means. All of the regular cast was extremely friendly and really open to the guest stars. … All of them are very easy [to work with].”
Following Jessica’s claims, several members of the ‘90210’ cast have spoken out to deny telling the actress not to make eye contact with them, though many have said she may have received the order from someone else.
The ‘LA’s Finest’ star made her allegations against the show earlier this month, when she said she would be “thrown off set” if she made eye contact with any of the show’s main cast.
She claimed: “I couldn’t even make eye contact with any of the cast members, which was really strange when you’re like trying to do a scene with them. It was like, ‘You’re not allowed to make eye contact with any one of the cast members or you’ll be thrown off the set.’ ”
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